Support Officer - Early Intervention and Access Team, Almondbank House, Perth

Main Purpose of the Role

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

We currently have the following opportunity:

Support Officer - PKC14070
£34,424 - £37,784
Early Intervention and Access Team, Almondbank House, Perth

Shape lives, build futures—join the Children, Families and Justice Service at Perth and Kinross Council.

Guided by the values of compassion, integrity, and ambition, our teams make a real difference every day.

Whether you're supporting children, families, or adults, you'll be part of a service that puts people first, champions rights-based and person-centred practice, and values relationship-based approaches to change lives.

We offer a collaborative, inclusive environment where your voice matters, your wellbeing is supported, and your professional growth is nurtured.  Be part of a council that recognises the life-changing impact of a service that invests in early intervention, innovation, and frontline excellence.

We are seeking an enthusiastic practitioner to join the Early Intervention and Access Team. This is a pivotal role proving high quality operational, administrative, and coordination support to the team, enabling the effective delivery of services to children, young people, and families.

The role supports social work practitioners by managing systems, information, performance data, and service processes to ensure timely interventions, statutory compliance, and positive outcomes for children and families. The role goes beyond routine administration and requires a high level of independence, judgement and initiative.

Key Responsibilities

• Collate, analyse, and present statistical and performance information relating to children’s social work activity, including referral volumes, response times, and statutory performance indicators.
• Assist Team Leader and Managers in monitoring service performance against statutory requirements and internal targets.
• Contribute to service reviews, inspections, audits, and improvement planning by providing accurate and timely performance data.
• Support the preparation of information required for partner agencies, inspections, complaints, and other Information requests.
• Review working methods and administrative processes to ensure efficiency, consistency, and compliance.
• Propose and implement improvements to systems and procedures where required.
• Ensure administrative processes support statutory timescales and service priorities.
• Demonstrate flexibility in managing competing priorities within a high demand social work environment.
• Requires advanced administrative knowledge, strong IT and data-handling skills, and an understanding of children’s social work environments.
• Involves maintaining and improving systems, not just using them.
• Requires the ability to work on own initiative, manage competing demands, and support operational decision making.
• The level of qualification, system responsibility, has a direct impact on the grading of the role.
• Uphold the Council’s values, Employee Charter, Customer Care Standards, and Code of Conduct

The post holder may be required to perform duties other than those given in the job description for the post.  The particular duties and responsibilities attached to posts may vary from time to time depending on the requirements of the Service without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibilities entailed.

Please note, we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this post.

Skills & Experience Required

Essential

• Experience in an administrative, coordination, or support role within children’s services, social work, education, or a related public sector environment.
• Strong ICT skills, including Microsoft Office and database systems.
• Experience of compiling and analysing statistical and performance information.
• Excellent organisational, communication, and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage sensitive information, and exercise sound judgement.
• Ensure all administrative practice complies with legislation, including Data Protection, Information Governance, Health and Safety, and Equality duties.
• Apply strict confidentiality, discretion, and professional judgement when handling sensitive social work information.
• Maintain awareness of current legislation, policy, and guidance relevant to children’s social work and early intervention services, sharing relevant updates with the team.
• Promote a professional, customer focused approach always.

Desirable

• Experience supporting statutory children’s social work teams (e.g. referrals, child protection, looked after children).
• Supervisory experience.
• SVQ Level 3 in social care or HNC in Business Administration or equivalent qualification.

 

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

Here's what we can offer you:

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Flexi time
• Access to a range of benefits
• Paid SSSC annual membership for relevant positions.

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

All new employees have a four-month probationary period. Further details are available in the FAQs at “How to apply for a job or apprenticeship with us”.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Debbie Reilly-Davidson, Operational Manager on 01738 476829 to find out more.

Click “APPLY NOW”

External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

Working with children and/or protected adults is regarded as a regulated role and under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 you will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 10 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.